But in a confession that will no doubt please the fellow school gate mothers who are said to despair at her seemingly effortless glamour, Elle confesses that on the occasions she has been snapped looking picture perfect, she has actually been getting ready for hours.

Yummy mummy: Elle's school run glamour attracts admiration and envy in equal measures

'I find it amusing that so much is made about my appearance, especially when I'm dropping my son off at school, she told Radio Times this week.

'I'm often on the way to work, so I've spent two hours having my hair and make up done, and I'm wearing "work" clothes, she says.

In contrast to the hours of grooming that go into her working day appearance, Elle says her usual routine takes just ten minutes.'

'I don't wear make up, high heels and leather trousers in everyday life.'

Innate style: 'Not every day is a leather trousers day!' When she's not working Elle says she spends just 10 minutes getting ready, and often dresses down

It's not only Elle's yummy mummy chic that gets her noticed though. With her perfect figure and youthful skin, Elle looks decades younger than her age.

The businesswoman puts her success down to nothing more than healthy eating and meditation. The mother-of-two follows a strict organic diet and practises yoga and meditation daily to maintain her appearance.

'I love working with my trainer James Duigan, although I'm nearly 50 now so I have different requirements to when I was 20.

Good sport: Elle dresses down as she does the school run en route to the gym... but still manages to look chic

'I don't run eight miles a day like I used to. I eat a lot of organic food and drink lots of water, and I take time for meditation to set up my day.''Beauty comes from within,' she adds.

But Elle, whose products and modelling contracts earn her an estimated £30million a year, proves she still knows how to dress down.

Supermodel: Elle, executive producer and host of Britain's Next Top Model, maintainS her incredible figure and youthful looks through 'healthy eating and meditation'

In a move that is likely to please her fellow school gate mothers, Elle was spotted on this week's school run dressed down in three-quarter length running trousers and a zip-up top, her bare face covered with sunglasses, her scraped-back hair with a baseball cap.